ADO-EKITI – In a move to bridge the communication gap between the government and the grassroots, the Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU) has made a passionate plea to the Ekiti State Government. The union is calling for the immediate rehabilitation and restructuring of the defunct Ifaki-Ekiti AM station into a full-fledged indigenous FM station.
The National Officer of RATTAWU, Comrade Jasper Taiwo Falae, made this call during a live broadcast on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Ado-Ekiti, to mark the 2026 World Radio Day. The station, which began as a repeater station for the Ondo State Broadcasting Corporation in September 1979, has been silent since 2011, when it was closed for a rehabilitation process that never reached completion.
Comrade Falae emphasized that the current media landscape in Ekiti State, though saturated with commercial FM stations, lacks a dedicated public platform that speaks purely in the mother tongue. He argued that converting the Ifaki station into an indigenous FM arm of the Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State (BSES) would provide a vital link to the rural population that Ekiti 91.5 FM and Ekiti TV currently serve from the state capital.
A major pillar of the union’s advocacy is the need for a station that broadcasts exclusively in the Yoruba language and various Ekiti dialects. Falae pointed out that this model has been highly successful in Northern Nigeria, where Hausa-language stations serve as the primary source of information, education, and mobilization for millions of citizens who may not be fluent in English.
By adopting this “vernacular-only” approach, Ekiti State can ensure that its policies, agricultural programs, and health initiatives are understood by the oldest person in the most remote farmstead.
Speaking to the people in their own dialect creates a level of intimacy and trust that English-centric broadcasting simply cannot achieve, fostering a sense of belonging among the indigenous population.
Furthermore, an indigenous station would serve as a cultural archive. In an era where local dialects are facing the threat of extinction due to globalization, a dedicated Ekiti-dialect station would promote local folklore, traditional music, and history. This would ensure that the rich heritage of the Ekiti people is passed down to the younger generation through a medium they interact with daily.
Addressing the theme of the 2026 World Radio Day, “Radio and Artificial Intelligence: AI is a Tool, Not a Voice,” Comrade Falae noted that while technology is evolving, the “voice” of the people must remain authentic. He argued that AI can be used to archive local dialects and translate complex global news into the Ekiti tongue, but the heart of the broadcast must remain human and local.
The National Officer, who had previously championed this cause during his tenure as the State Council Chairman of RATTAWU, lamented the continued silence of the Ifaki station. He noted that the infrastructure at Ifaki-Ekiti represents a wasted investment that, if revived, could become a powerhouse for grassroots mobilization and a revenue-generating asset for the state.
He further stressed that the proliferation of commercial stations, while good for the economy, often prioritizes profit over public service. A state-owned indigenous station would prioritize the “common man,” providing a platform for rural dwellers to voice their challenges, celebrate their community milestones, and participate directly in the democratic process.
In conclusion, RATTAWU urged Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration to view the resuscitation of the Ifaki-Ekiti station not just as a media project, but as a social contract. By giving the people a station that speaks their language, the government is effectively giving them a seat at the table of governance, ensuring that in the age of AI and rapid digital change, no Ekiti indigene is left behind.
